Can you buy a good quality pink flute?
Dear Readers,
This email came today:
Best, Jen
Note: The above post has re-edited to get rid of the sound of frustration that I was being haunted by when first writing this. Thanks to Anon. who pointed that out.
Best, Jen Aug. 2009
This email came today:
I am interested in purchasing a good quality flute that will last me a long time, however, I would also like it to be pink. The flutes I am finding on the internet so far seem to be lower quality. Do you know of a place I can get a high qualilty pink flute, or is there a way I can have a regular silver flute lacquered to that colour?
I'm sorry to bother you with such a silly question, but I am very interested in this, and the internet has not been very helpful thus-far! Thanks for your time.
I'm sorry to bother you with such a silly question, but I am very interested in this, and the internet has not been very helpful thus-far! Thanks for your time.
Dear....
As a flute teacher and performer who has played for 35 years, I firmly believe that playing the flute is about the SOUND of the flute, and the quality of its workmanship, so that it lasts and works well.
What the flute looks like is way down on my list.
The idea of colouring or laquering a flute for aesthetic purposes is the opposite of almost everything I know about the instrument.
They keys have to be fast, the pads have to seal, and the sound has to be beautiful.
The companies who do paint flutes in colours use very cheap flutes that have few or none of these qualities.
And, as far as I know, to date there is no reputable flute manufacturer who decorates flutes in this manner.
However, I wonder if you're asking about a pink flute because you have a young person in your life who loves everything to be pink?
If this is the case, you can buy a pink case cover or make a pink flute case cover and/or simply tie a pink bow on the crown of the flute.
I recommend these brands of flutes as durable and decent quality.
Let me know if this helps.
As a flute teacher and performer who has played for 35 years, I firmly believe that playing the flute is about the SOUND of the flute, and the quality of its workmanship, so that it lasts and works well.
What the flute looks like is way down on my list.
The idea of colouring or laquering a flute for aesthetic purposes is the opposite of almost everything I know about the instrument.
They keys have to be fast, the pads have to seal, and the sound has to be beautiful.
The companies who do paint flutes in colours use very cheap flutes that have few or none of these qualities.
And, as far as I know, to date there is no reputable flute manufacturer who decorates flutes in this manner.
However, I wonder if you're asking about a pink flute because you have a young person in your life who loves everything to be pink?
If this is the case, you can buy a pink case cover or make a pink flute case cover and/or simply tie a pink bow on the crown of the flute.
I recommend these brands of flutes as durable and decent quality.
Let me know if this helps.
Best, Jen
Note: The above post has re-edited to get rid of the sound of frustration that I was being haunted by when first writing this. Thanks to Anon. who pointed that out.
Best, Jen Aug. 2009
posted by jen at 10:41 PM
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Comments (5)
I think if someone were truly determined, they might find someone to lacquer a Yamaha 200 student flute in pink.
That said, I do agree that perhaps a pink music stand, case cover, music folio, etc are a much, much better idea.
Another fun, and still appropriate, option could be having a pink stone set into a custom crownpiece.
I do think that showing up with a pink-lacquered flute for any respectable audition or performance would be a serious handicap to the player.
Hi Rebecca,
Actually this question came up on one of the flute discussion groups recently, and a repair technician suggested that the mechanical tolerances were too close on a flute to be able to laquer anything other than the tube. The lacquer build up was too much for the tone holes, mechanism etc.
That's what I understand.
Best, Jen
P.S.
the laquering I just referred to was post-manufacture, of course.
Generally speaking, the color doesn't make any difference. It's the quality of the flute itself. But I agree with Rebecca, a respectable performance might not be appropriate. Although there are some musicians who use flamboyant instruments. One of the Philadelphia Orchestra violinists (i forget his name) uses lots of colors. It works for him, its his shtick.
I know a Taiwanese flute maker is making a new flute material called "Grenadiite". They might do Pink Flute. They sold this material to Pearl piccolo. Their piccolo "Pearl PFP 105" is made from Grenadiite.
http://www.flute.com.tw/en/products/index.php?func=detail&sid=35&id=45